FOUNDING CHAIR – DR. ERIC JACKMAN

Frederic (Eric) L.R. Jackman, C.M., O.Ont., C.D., Ph.D., LL.D., D.Sc. a businessman and psychologist serves as founding chair and trustee of The Psychology Foundation of Canada. Eric was educated at the Universities of British Columbia, Toronto and Chicago. Dr. Jackman is President of Invicta Investments ULC and Chairman of the Jackman Foundation. He is a former Chancellor of the University of Windsor and past President of the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Empire Club of Canada, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Toronto Branch, and past Chair of the Atlantic Council of Canada (now NATO Association of Canada). For his work to improve his community and Canada, Dr. Jackman has received the CMHA C.M. Hincks National Award for Mental Health, Canada’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal, recipient of Her Majesty’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, The Order of Ontario, Order of Canada, four honorary doctorates, and in 2022 The Canadian Psychology Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Profession.

CHAIR – JESSICA GOLDBERG

Jessica is a Deloitte Partner with over 25 years’ experience advising senior executives on a range of strategic issues and initiatives, primarily in banking and insurance.  She is adept at integrating strategy with people, operations, and technology considerations to deliver practical solutions.  She has worked with leading organizations across Canada and internationally with Deloitte in London, UK.  Jessica holds an MBA from Rotman, an MA in Psychology from the University of Toronto and a BA(Hon) in Psychology from Queens University.  She recently completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Education Program.

VICE CHAIR – MALCOLM MCLEAN

After completing the International MBA program at Schulich with a specialty in Russia and
Eastern Europe, Malcolm worked for several years in Germany before returning to
Canada. Motivated by his interest in insight, perception, and the behaviour of brands, he
made the decision to focus on brand & consumer strategy and has led strategic initiatives
in Canada, North America, and Europe. After making rain happen at some of Canada’s
leading agencies – including both big network and independent Canadian shops – he
founded McLean Strategic, a brand consultancy. More recently he also stepped into the
role of President & CSO at Mackie Biernacki an independent, full-service boutique agency.

During his career, Malcolm has been engaged as the strategic lead for Canada on some of
the world’s most famous brands, including Apple, Absolut, BMW, HSBC, Mars, Mercedes,
and P&G, has led strategic initiatives across North America and in Europe, even
presenting a country-brand strategy to the President of Armenia (really!). He’s had the
privilege to work with a variety of not-for-profit organizations including CBCF, the Salvation
Army, Special Olympics, Moms Demand Action for Gun Control in America, and the
Missing Children’s Society of Canada. Malcolm led the agency team responsible for
rebranding the Psychology Foundation of Canada to become Strong Minds, Strong Kids
(Psychology Canada), an initiative that led to him joining the board and subsequently
becoming Vice-Chair.

Malcolm speaks four languages, is a proud Maritimer, and is very much a dog guy.

PSYCHOLOGIST – DR. REBECCA PILLAI RIDDELL

Dr. Pillai Riddell is the Director of the Opportunities to Understand Childhood Hurt Laboratory or The OUCH Lab (www.yorku.ca/ouchlab) at York University, Canada. She is a Tier 1 York Research Chair in Pain and Mental Health. She also is Chair of the External advisory board of the Sick Kids Pain Centre and a member of the advisory board for Sick Kids Infant Mental Health Promotion Program.  As both a basic behavioural scientist and a clinical psychologist, Dr. Pillai Riddell leads a world-renown research program in infant and young child pain that seeks to understand pain from psychological, social, and a biological perspectives.  Her work as a clinical psychologist focuses on supporting parents of babies and young children.  Among her award-winning research accomplishments, her lab built the largest cohort in the world studying young child and parent interactions in vaccinations over the first five years of life. Her research focuses on parent-infant interactions during painful procedures, particularly the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Pillai Riddell is a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, the 2019 American Pain Society’s Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children’s Pain winner, and recipient of Canadian Pain Society’s 2020 Outstanding Mentorship Award.

TREASURER – MICHAEL ORT

Michael is a Partner in KPMG Canada’s Accounting Advisory Practice in Toronto who leads the GTA ESG reporting service line. In addition, Michael is a member of KPMG Canada’s National Sustainability Topic Team. He also belongs to a number of internal working groups and taskforces sharing leading practices on the implementation of ESG standards and regulatory changes.  Michael has extensive experience in multiple disciplines including complex and emerging technical accounting and reporting advice, ESG reporting and regulatory standard implementation projects. In addition, Michael focuses on advising clients on the implementation of Finance function improvement, including financial reporting modernization, reporting process improvement and strategy, and risk and control frameworks.

DR. ROBIN ALTER – PH.D, C. PSYCH

Dr. Robin Alter is a registered clinical psychologist in practice in Ontario since 1979. She received her Masters and PhD degrees from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1979. She was a Senior Consultant to the Hincks-Dellcrest Children’s Centre (now Sick Kids Community Treatment Centre) and Blue Hills Child and Family Centre )now York Hills Child and Family Centre) for almost 40 years. In her consulting capacity, she also worked with Anishnawbe Health Toronto Conducting Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) assessments. Her current practice includes both the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. She is the co-founder of the ADD Institute and a lifetime member of the Canadian Psychological Association, Ontario Psychological Association and American Psychological Association. Dr. Alter has been working as a psychologist for over 44 years, first in Florida as the only psychologist working with children and families in a rural mental health centre. Since coming to Toronto, she has worked as a clinician and consultant and taught courses in psychology at York University, while also running her comprehensive private practice. She is the author of several books, Anxiety and the Gift of Imagination and the Anxiety Workbook for Kids, and has been a trustee with Strong Minds/Strong Kid/Psychology Canada for the past 10 years in a variety of capacities, developing programs as well as a member of the Task Force to guide psychologists to comply with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee for Indigenous People of Canada.

MICHAEL BEEFORTH – BA., M.A., LL.B.

Mike is a commercial litigator and a partner in Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. Mike has particular expertise in advising clients in the financial services industry, having spent 18 months seconded to a large Canadian bank where he managed litigation for the bank’s capital markets, wealth management and treasury services businesses. Mike also regularly advised the business on compliance and regulatory issues, and planned and managed numerous internal investigations regarding a variety of issues, including regulatory inquiries and prosecutions, employment matters, and securities issues. Mike also acts for developers, commercial landlords and tenants in litigation relating to lease disputes and renewals, purchase and sale transactions, enforcing secured interests, and related injunctive relief. Mike has extensive experience in other areas of commercial litigation, including directors’ and officers’ liability, oppression proceedings, complex fraud matters, injunctions and class actions. Mike has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, has represented clients in both domestic and international arbitrations, and has dealt with a number of regulators including the Ontario Securities Commission and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

JULIE GAUDRY – B.SC.

Julie is Vice President, Creditor at RBC Insurance. Julie is a health and wellness professional by back ground, with proven effectiveness in business leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and a passion for leading highly engaged teams in the development and execution of innovative programs that positively impact the physical and mental health of the communities we serve. Julie has been at RBC since 2006 where she has held a number of progressively more senior positions, including Wellness and Group Benefits roles within Human Resources until 2014, Group Benefits Strategy and Business Lead until 2023, and now Julie is Vice President Creditor Insurance, responsible for developing and executing on the Creditor Insurance business strategy and championing innovative product and client experience solutions in collaboration with partners across RBC. Julie has a Bachelor of Kinesiology (with minor in Psychology) from McMaster University and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. She also has certifications in Foundations of Financial Performance at RBC, Ivey Business School and NCCP Competition-Introduction trained coach.

DR. MARIE-JOSÉE GENDRON, PH.D., C.PSYCH.

CLINICAL AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

CHIEF OF MENTAL HEALTH & STAFF WELL-BEING, TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Dr. Marie- Josée Gendron has been a clinical and school psychologist for over 20 years. She has held multiple positions in a variety of research, academic and clinical settings. She currently works as a Chief of Mental Health & Staff Well-Being for the Toronto Catholic District School Board. She is currently a board member at OPA as well as Strong Minds Strong Kids. Previously, she has been the Mental Health Leader for the French Catholic School Board in Toronto. She has also worked as the Research Director of Pearson Canada developing various psychometric tools for psychologists and other professionals.

DR. NICOLE RACINE – PH.D., R.PSYCH.

Dr. Nicole Racine is a clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Racine received her PhD in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University and completed a residency in Clinical and Pediatric Child Psychology at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Her research program examines the impact of maternal and childhood adversity on mental health and wellbeing, risk and resilience processes, and what prevention and intervention strategies break cycles of risk across generations.

DR. CHANTAL REGIS – PH.D., C.PSYCH.

Dr. Chantal Regis is a Registered Psychologist with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Guelph. Her areas of practice include children and adolescents. She provides therapeutic, assessment and consultation services at the Durham District School Board, and in private practice in the Greater Toronto Area. Dr. Regis previously worked as a staff psychologist at the Peterborough Regional Health Service, and at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. 

VALERIE STERLING – RECE, B.ED., AECEO.C, INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE

Valerie most recently was the Manager of Family and Community Engagement -The Learning Partnership and, the former Coordinator with the Toronto District School Board.  She is a registered and certified early childhood educator, teacher, consultant/coordinator, and project manager.  She initiated, developed and implemented early childhood programs, early intervention projects, teacher education programs and coordinated readiness to learn research initiatives (UYE and EDI).

Valerie served as a member of the Toronto Centre for the Arts; elected member of the College of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario, chairing its Discipline and Registration Appeals Committees; and member of the Seneca College ECE Advisory Committee.  Valerie is a former Toronto Board of Health member; Chair, North Region Local Health Committee; Chair, Board of Health Section of all the Health Units of Ontario; President of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) and, Past President of the University Women’s Club of North York. Valerie continues to mentor York University students in C4 research projects (Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom). The purpose of C4 is to provide students with an opportunity to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams on real-world challenges with social impact. She is also an executive member of Retired Teachers of Ontario and Associate Editor of their magazine. Valerie is also an activity convener of two Probus Clubs in Toronto.